Google's Phone Gallery Keeps You Posted on the Latest Android Phones
There are so many different Android phones, and that's been one of the reasons for Android's success. Different form factors, different carriers, even in the U.S. So how do you find out about all them? Google has an app, er, sorry, a web site for that. In fact, the Google Phone Gallery also shows what you do with a web page that's no longer being used. It used to be the site you would go to if you wanted to by an HTC Nexus One, the late, lamented Google Phone (http://www.google.com/phone). It's an interesting
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R2-D2 Smartphone is the Droid You're Looking For
It's only fitting that Motorola would build a Droid device around the most famous android of all time. We're of course talking about R2-D2 and not Google's open-source platform, though that Android is included in the fray as well. You've read about the R2-D2 Droid, you've seen the pictures, and at long last, you can finally order one. The limited edition smartphone is now available through Verizon for $249 with a two-year service agreement, regardless of whether you're a new or existing subscriber (full retail
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Android Apps Caught Sending Private Data to Advertisers
A study using an application called "TaintDroid: An Information-Flow Tracking System for Realtime Privacy Monitoring on Smartphones," conducted by Intel Labs, Penn State Univesity, and Duke University found that a number of Android apps were sending user data, including location, back to advertisers. In fact, the study found, one-half, or 15 out of 30 of the apps tested, shared some private data. "TaintDroid" itself is a real-time monitoring service that researchers used to track the flow of "privacy-sensitive
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AMD to Launch Radeon HD 6000 Series October 19
We always hate to recommend waiting to upgrade your hardware -- after all, something new and better and faster and shinier is always right around the corner -- but if you can hang tight for two to three more weeks, you'll have more options to choose from. Nvidia is planning to release a few new Fermi-based GPUs, including its entry-level GeForce GT 430, as well as introduce some price cuts. In anticipation of that, word on the Web is that AMD will launch its Radeon HD 6000 series on October 19. The latest chatter
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Linux On Your iPad? Yes, You Can
If you love your Apple iPad but wish you could run your favorite 'nix applications on it, StarNet Communications has an app for that. If you've been dying to see Flash apps on the iPad, the company's got a fix for that, too -- and none of it involves a hack that would anger ole' Steve. StarNet on Thursday released iLIVEx. It turns the iPad into an X terminal that runs Linux and Unix apps hosted on remote servers. The folks at StarNet say iLIVEx will give users LAN-like performance when accessing remote apps,
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MSI Launches GT663 Laptop with Nvidia Graphics
MSI has gone and expanded its gaming notebook line with the launch of the GT663, a 15.6-inch model with Nvidia's high-end GeForce GTX 460M graphics inside. The graphics part comes with 1.5GB of GDDR5 memory and supports all those DirectX 11 visuals, as well as Nvidia's PhysX technology, if you're keeping count of marketing bullets. Various configurations are available, all of which come built around Intel's Core i7 platform. Other specs include up to 12GB of DDR3-1066/1333 memory, 500GB SATA hard drive, DVD
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AT&T Adds Two New 3G BlackBerry Smartphones
AT&T is adding two new BlackBerry smartphones to its lineup. First up is the BlackBerry Pearl 3G (model 9100) which is the smallest BlackBerry smartphone yet measuring less than two inches wide and weighing 3.3 ounces. This phone has built-in Wi-Fi and GPS as well as a high resolution display. The BlackBerry Pearl 3G will be available for $149.99 starting October 17. AT&T's other new BlackBerry, the BlackBerry Curve 3G (model 9300), features built-in GPS, dedicated media keys, support for the AT&T
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GoPro HERO 960: An Entry-Level Helmet Cam
If you've ever wanted to be on the X-Games, or at least record yourself as you went for your latest trick, this is probably worth paying attention to. GoPro, which is known for making helmet cams, has just introduced their latest version: the Wearable HD Hero 960. It's a head-worn camera that captures the action ahead of you in high definition, with this one being marked as an entry-level unit. The company claims that it can handle just about anything. Skiing, motorsports, jumping from airplanes, etc. You can
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Brite-View Streams 1080p Content From PC to TV With HDelight
Wireless streaming, aside from tablet PCs, seems to be all the rage these days. It was once reserved for those in the high-end market, but now the technology has hit a price point that's ready for mass market. Brite-View has been in the game for some time now, primarily in the business of creating media streamers. But the new HDelight is a wireless 1080p PC-to-TV transmission kit, and it marks the company's third WHDI solution for the home theater. This one is definitely the smallest of the three, with the ability
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MSI Introduces N480GTX Twin Frozr II Graphics Card
Looking for a new GPU, and don't much mind how much noise it makes? Look no further than MSI's newest card, the N480GTX Twin Frozr II graphics card. Despite having two huge fans onboard, MSI claims that their specialized cooling system effectively reduces temperature by 14 degrees C and noise by 4dB. Impressive claims for sure. The card is built on the 40nm manufacturing process, and it's equipped with 1.5GB of GDDR5 memory. Furthermore, there are two 8cm PWM fans and five heat-pipes, and the integrated afterburner
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Nintendo Delays 3DS Launch Until Next Year For All Markets
Here's what you don't want to do if you're running a major video game company that's publicly owned: delay a major console. Back in June, Nintendo revealed that the 3D version of their DS handheld was real, and while it would not ship in the U.S. until early 2011, Japanese gamers would be able to enjoy it this year. Now, that's being pushed back. The company has come forward with an official product delay, meaning that the 3DS will not be on sale in any market, Japan or otherwise, for the huge holiday season.
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Left 4 Dead "The Sacrifice" DLC Trailer and Screenshots
Valve just sent over a trailer and screenshots for "The Sacrifice" DLC, which is in development for both Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2. As fans of the franchise will know, "The Sacrifice" is going to explain why Bill, one of the original four survivors from the first game, is dead in "The Passing" map, which was released for L4D2 a few months back. "The Sacrifice" downloadable content is due for release on October 5, 2010. It is the prequel to "The Passing," and takes place from the L4D Survivors'
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HP Names A New CEO: Léo Apotheker
And just like that, another CEO rolls into an HP corner office. Not even two months after HP's Mark Hurd resigned as the CEO of Hewlett-Packard, a replacement has been found. It's not immediately clear why the temporary CEO wasn't positioned as full-time, nor is perfectly clear why HP went outside of the company. We always have to wonder what kind of impact is has on employee morale when a company seeks a CEO from outside of the company (was no one in the company good enough? was the company in need of a culture
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Asus Matrix 5870 2GB Video Card Review
Today on HotHardware we look at one of the most highly customized Radeon HD 5870 cards on the market, the Asus Matrix 5870. This card offers identical clock speeds to AMD's reference design, with an 850 MHz core clock and 1200 MHz memory speed, but that's where the similarities end. This particular graphics card features 2GB of GDDR5 memory, a custom ROG shroud, an LED load indicator, voltage read points, a video BIOS recovery button, dual 8-pin PCI-E power connectors, and a Super Hybrid Engine chip which provides
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Gateway Puts WiMAX In Latest NV59C66u Notebook
Gateway announced the latest model in its Gateway NV Series line of notebooks with the new Gateway NV59C66u. This new notebook features integrated WiMAX capabilities thanks to an Intel 6250 wireless card which supports both WiMAX and Wi-Fi networks. Key specs within the NV Series line include Intel Core i3 and Core i5 as well as AMD Athlon and AMD Turion processors, up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, and 320GB to 500GB hard drives. The line also features an integrated High Definition webcam as well as 15.6-inch and 17.1-inch
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Gmail Becomes Less Conversational, If You Want
Some people love Gmail's conversation view, and some people hate it. Some just have gotten used to it. Now, however, if you don't like it, you can turn it off. In Gmail's conversation view, an email thread is linked together in one "cluster" in your inbox. It means, in effect, sorting by Subject to see a thread is no longer necessary. Still, not all like it. Toggling of Conversation View has been a requested feature for some time, and although many (like us) feel conversation view simplifies things, it can be
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Nokia Starts Shipping N8 Smartphone in Europe
Nokia can go ahead and check off "Phase One" on its grand plan of storming the smartphone market and propelling itself into relevance. The company's highly anticipated N8 -- the smartphone that could make or break Nokia's chances of being taken seriously in the high-end phone segment -- has starting shipping. "With the N8, and the new Symbian software, we are bringing a familiar, faster and more intuitive user experience to the world's most popular smartphone platform. The Nokia N8 has received the highest amount
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You Will Soon Own a Home Robot, Researchers Say
The "personal robots" market will explode in the next few years, and we don't mean all over your kitchen. ABI Research expects robots aimed at consumers to create a $19 billion market by 2017. Who wouldn't want one of the two new "personal presence" bots introduced this month by start-ups? Or Panasonic's new hair-washing robot? Vacuum robots have had the most success with consumers so far, but its these types of personal presence robots that ABI thinks will soon take off. "While a truly 'killer app' has yet
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Study: Texting While Driving Bans are Ineffective
So you're driving along minding the rules of the road when all of a sudden some moron in the other lane weaves in front of you. Is he drunk? Did he suffer a stroke? Nope, he's just firing off a text message. You could flip him off, but unless you have an appropriate emoticon for that, and his cell phone number, he'll never see it. Because of situations like this -- and worse -- most states have had the good sense to ban texting while driving. It'd be naive to think a law prohibiting an activity would stop it
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New Kobo Ereader Adds Faster CPU, Enhanced Display, And Wi-Fi
Day by day, Amazon's Kindle is having to fight harder and harder to maintain its dominance in the eReader universe. The Barnes & Noble NOOK is giving it a run for its money, and now the latest Kobo is as well. It's easy to disregard eReader devices that lack any sort of wireless option; hardly anyone wants to plug an eReader into a PC just to sideload a book. But the newest Kobo has a lot going for it. It adds Wi-Fi, a faster processor and even a few color options. All for a price that's more than reasonable.
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Gateway Adds To Line of All-in-One PCs
Gateway expanded its line of all-in-one desktop PCs by adding new models to its existing ZX One Series. The new Gateway One ZX4951 Series and One ZX6951 Series feature 21.5- or 23-inch full high definition displays, Intel Pentium or Core i3 processors, and Blu-ray drives. Other specs include 4GB of RAM (upgradeable to 16GB via 4 slots), 500 or 640GB SATA hard drives, high-definition audio with 5.1 channel support, integrated wireless capabilities, and an integrated webcam. Additionally, the ZX6951 includes a
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Toshiba Reveals Canvio Hard Drives With USB 3.0
Toshiba added the Canvio 3.0 portable hard disk drive with a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface to its lineup. These new drives offer transfers at up to 10 times the speed of USB 2.0 drives. The Canvio 3.0 drives will come in storage capacities of 500GB, 750GB, and 1TB. Each of the new drives will be preloaded with Windows-based NTI BackupNow EZ software. For security, the drives offer up to 256-bit data encryption and password protection. Prices for the drives start at $119.99. Toshiba Unveils Canvio™ 3.0 Portable
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Toshiba Debuts A665-3D 15.6" 3D Gaming Notebook
Haven't you heard? Companies are making 3D laptops now! We know that's a bit tongue-in-cheek, but the rash of 3D notebooks is becoming somewhat overwhelming. At first, NVIDIA's 3D Vision was almost exclusively reserved for the desktop. Now, it seems like a new 3D capable notebook is arriving every other week or so. Toshiba is keeping the roll going with their new Satellite A665-3D, which utilizes 3D Vision technology and software that can convert 2D material into 3D content for viewing. Toshiba ships this machine
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Asus Matrix 5870 2GB Video Card Review
Hardware aficionados know there is more to performance computing than just buying the most expensive parts available and throwing them altogether in the same system. There's overclocking, case modding, cooling, and performance tuning to consider, among many other thigs. Of course, everyone has their opinions on these aspects of the hobby, with some folks taking things to further extremes than others. We get excited when the companies that manufacture the hardware we crave actually listen to our requests
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Ram speed (the "is this ram compatible with this motherboard" thread)
Hey guys, I'm putting together a rig for my girlfriend, but it's been a while since I've done this. I'm looking at a motherboard that says the memory standard is "2000MHz+" (and another one that is "2600MHz+"). Now, I thought that it meant DDR3 2000 or higher. But when I look at the combo deals, they're selling it bundled with DDR3 1600. And I couldn't even find DDR3 2600 ram, but the motherboard can come bundled with DDR3 1600 as well. Do I need DDR3 2000 ram for these boards? Or am I mistaken?
Here are the boards in question:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188054
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188055
Thanks for looking,
Robert
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AMD to Launch Radeon HD 6000 Series October 19
We always hate to recommend waiting to upgrade your hardware -- after all, something new and better and faster and shinier is always right around the corner -- but if you can hang tight for two to three more weeks, you'll have more options to choose from. Nvidia is planning to release a few new Fermi-based GPUs, including its entry-level GeForce GT 430, as well as introduce some price cuts. In anticipation of that, word on the Web is that AMD will launch its Radeon HD 6000 series on October 19.The latest chatter runs counter to recent reports that AMD would delay the launch of its HD 6000 series, and since AMD hasn't said anything official, we'll just have to wait and see. Meanwhile, Nvidia is planning to cut the price of its GTX 460 768MB card during that same time frame to sway users away from the HD 5000 series, so we can see why AMD would pull a 180 and push ahead with its 6000 series rather than put it on the back burner for another month or two.
In case you haven't seen it by now, a purportedly leaked slide shows exactly how AMD's 6000 series will stack up to its HD 5000 series. According to the slide, the 6000 series will also come built on a 40nm manufacturing process, but the Barts PRO and Barts XT cores look to be quite a bit faster than the Juniper PRO and Juniper XT cores they're replacing, and compares somewhat favorably to the Cypres XT-based 5870.
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Android Apps Caught Sending Private Data to Advertisers
A study using an application called "TaintDroid: An Information-Flow Tracking System for Realtime Privacy Monitoring on Smartphones," conducted by Intel Labs, Penn State Univesity, and Duke University found that a number of Android apps were sending user data, including location, back to advertisers. In fact, the study found, one-half, or 15 out of 30 of the apps tested, shared some private data."TaintDroid" itself is a real-time monitoring service that researchers used to track the flow of "privacy-sensitive data" through third-party Android apps. The full study is here (.PDF). TaintDroid looks for taints, or data from privacy-sensitive sources.
The TaintDroid research found that 15 of the 30 apps send users' "geographic location to remote advertisement servers." Additionally, seven of the 30 applications send a unique hardware hardware identifier and, in some cases, even send the phone number and SIM card information. Researchers said they identified 68 cases of "potentially misused private information" by 20 apps.
In August, Google banned, then later restored a series of wallpaper apps from the Android Market, that were similarly collecting such data. In that case, Google eventually said that the developer was simply overzealous.
Google, in response to the finding, reminded that all Android Market apps indicate which "permissions" they require. They said:
When users install an Android Market app, the spokesperson said, "users see a screen that explains clearly what information the application has permission to access, such as a user's location or contacts. Users must explicitly approve this access in order to continue with the installation, and they may uninstall applications at any time. Any third party code included in an application is bound by these same permissions. We consistently advise users to only install apps they trust."True, but just as with the end-user license agreements (EULAs) attached to software, how many people really read that?
The following applications were used in the study. However, researchers didn't reveal which of them were "culprits" in the study. They were: The Weather Channel, Cestos, Solitaire, Movies, Babble, Manga Browser, Bump, Wertago, Antivirus, ABC Animals, Traffic Jam, Hearts, Blackjack, Horoscope, 3001 Wisom Quotes Live, Yellow Pages, Dastelefonbuch, Astrid, BBC News Live Stream, Ringtones, Layer, Knocking, Barcode Scanner, Coupons, Trapster, Spongebob Slide, ProBasketBall, MySpace, ixMAT, and Evernote.
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Linux On Your iPad? Yes, You Can
If you love your Apple iPad but wish you could run your favorite 'nix applications on it, StarNet Communications has an app for that. If you've been dying to see Flash apps on the iPad, the company's got a fix for that, too -- and none of it involves a hack that would anger ole' Steve. StarNet on Thursday released iLIVEx. It turns the iPad into an X terminal that runs Linux and Unix apps hosted on remote servers.The folks at StarNet say iLIVEx will give users LAN-like performance when accessing remote apps, even over 3G connections, because it relies on the speedy X11 protocol. Connections are secure, too, by way of SSH encryption.
If you have an iPad but have not yet developed a taste for Linux, StarNet has an app for that, too. When you buy iLIVEx you'll get a free account that lets you run a virtual Linux desktop. It runs on the iPad but can also be run on a Mac, Windows or Linux PC. With the virtual desktop you gain access to apps hosted on StarNet's cloud Linux server. These give iPad users functions they can't get natively such as:
- The ability to view Flash. The cloud apps include a Firefox browser which lets iPad users see Flash-based Web sites and applications. (Hulu anyone?)
- The ability to copy and paste between applications on the iPad.
- The ability to access the virtual Linux desktop from Windows, Linux and Macintosh PCs, as well as the iPad, switching at will between them without losing data. This requires you to buy the appropriate X11 client for each PC. But StarNet will give you a six-month trial version of the others when you buy iLIVEx.
iLIVEx costs $14.99 and is available now from the App Store for U.S. and Canadian residents. StarNet will be able to sell globally in about 30 days, after the U.S. government gives its OK for the company to export iLIVEx's SSH encryption code.
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R2-D2 Smartphone is the Droid You're Looking For
It's only fitting that Motorola would build a Droid device around the most famous android of all time. We're of course talking about R2-D2 and not Google's open-source platform, though that Android is included in the fray as well. You've read about the R2-D2 Droid, you've seen the pictures, and at long last, you can finally order one.The limited edition smartphone is now available through Verizon for $249 with a two-year service agreement, regardless of whether you're a new or existing subscriber (full retail price is $699). That gets you one of the coolest looking phones in the galaxy, a multimedia dock, and a handful of exclusive content pre-loaded on the device, including ringtones, interactive wallpaper, a custom clock Widget, a "Best of R2-D2" video with original Cantina music, and an Empire Strikes Back Binoculars application.
In case you need a refresher, Motorola's Droid 2 smartphone comes with a 3.7-inch WVGA touchscreen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 5MP camera, 512MB RAM, 8GB pre-installed microSD card (expandable up to 32GB), 1GHz processor, and Android 2.2 (Froyo).
Anyone planning on picking up an R2-D2 Droid?
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Maingear Offers Super Stock Options For SHIFT Personal Supercomputer
Need a new machine? Not content with the stock options out there? As any real modder and hacker would advise, you should probably consider an overclocking rampage. But not without some help, of course. Maingear is a long-standing player in the custom PC business, and in order to gain a leg-up over the mass-market competition, they're announcing new Super Stock options that will boost the performance of everyday parts while still providing a warranty to end-users.
The Super Stock options on the SHIFT "personal supercomputer" includes an overclocked processor, liquid cooling and custom paint options. Paired an overclocked CPU with a 3-way SLI graphics set ensures that you'll be getting serious performance results, and when you use three GeForce GTX 480, you can imagine how easy a time your machine will have with the latest 3D titles. The Super Stock option will also offer LiquidX 2700 and 2900 Supercooler Package which is a highly tuned watercooling loop built from the best components available that is hand-cut and wrapped. It uses no-dye liquid, Koolance CPU-360 Waterblock with compression nozzles, and is shipped with the liquid coolant pre-filled. And, if that isn’t enough, Maingear also offers Acoustic Dampening to further minimize any other potential noise.
If you need color options, those are available too. Users will be offered six high gloss custom paint colors, both painted interior and exterior. The SHIFT starts at $2299, with the bulk of the options highlighted below.
MAINGEAR REVS UP THE SHIFT WITH SUPER STOCK OPTIONS
MAINGEAR launches Super Stock options on their award-winning SHIFT desktop with jaw-dropping performance features including an overclocked CPU, liquid cooling and auto custom paint options
Kenilworth, New Jersey – September 27, 2010 - MAINGEAR, an award-winning PC system builder offering custom desktops, notebooks, workstations and media centers, proves there is always room for more. Bolstering the SHIFT with new Super Stock performance and personalization options, MAINGEAR continues to pioneer the ever-changing horizon of extreme personal computing, by utilizing the best possible configurations with eye catching designs.
Every MAINGEAR Super Stock upgrade is hand-picked and specialty tuned to push the already award winning SHIFT desktop with improvements in performance and design choices built to give the best high-performance PC experience. With maxed out performance including liquid cooled overclocked CPU processor and 3-way SLI® that is perfected in an aesthetically unique designed chassis, this system will turn heads in performance and looks.
Uncompromising Performance: With MAINGEAR’s Redline™ CPU overclocking, PC enthusiasts will be able to enjoy fast and stable CPU performance with Intel® Core™ i7-980X Extreme Edition processor overclocked up to 4.5GHZ. Along with 3-way SLI® NVIDIA® GeForce™ GTX 480, totaling to 4.5GB GDDR5, performance and everyday users can enjoy vivid movies, 3D games, entertainment and even get some 3D CAD or rendering processed in the background with this combination of ultimate performance.
Custom Liquid Cooling Excellence: MAINGEAR’s Super Stock option will also offer LiquidX 2700 and 2900 Supercooler Package which is a highly tuned watercooling loop built from the best components available that is hand-cut and wrapped. It uses no-dye liquid, Koolance CPU-360 Waterblock with compression nozzles, and is shipped with the liquid coolant pre-filled. And, if that isn’t enough, MAINGEAR also offers Acoustic Dampening to further minimize any other potential noise.
Custom Paint Job:Â The Super Stock option package offers six high gloss custom paint colors, both painted interior and exterior that gives the SHIFT system a special uniqueness yet shows a familiarity that is still unmistakably MAINGEAR. The system is hand-painted using high quality auto paint in luxurious colors in such as Root Beer and Brandywine, you can mix and match nearly 200 different color combinations.
Super Stock Highlights:
   * MAINGEAR SHIFT patent pending* advanced vertical heat dissipation chassis with window
   * Nearly 200 color combinations for the interior and exterior of the chassis of professional car paint colors in colors to fall in love including: Brandywine, Cobalt Blue, Frost White, Organic Green, Root Beer and Burple
   * Internal LED lighting to match your interior and exterior colors
   * Redline™ CPU overclocking up to 4.5GHZ with the Intel® Core™ i7-980X Extreme Edition processor
   * MAINGEAR LiquidX 2700 and 2900 Supercooler Package, which is a hand-built, highly tuned watercooling loop
   * Front-mounted 3 drive hot swappable bays to make it easy to pull hard drives in and out
   * 1.5KW Silverstone Strider Modular Industrial power supply
   * Performance chassis cooling upgrade fan to 180mm, 1300rpm, 150 cfm
·        Acoustic Dampening to lower the overall system noise
·        Unique Super Stock Out-of Box accessories including MAINGEAR branded t-shirt, toolkit, mousepad, and branded beanie hat
·        Starting at price of SHIFT is $2,299
Â
“The MAINGEAR SHIFT with Super Stock Options provides a unique and differentiated opportunity for overclockers to take advantage of the Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition - the world’s fastest, smartest PC processor. Intel’s world class manufacturing helps deliver industry-leading performance to allow PC Enthusiasts the ultimate gaming & media experience.â€Â Chris Tobias – Director, Channel Desktop Marketing - Intel
“MAINGEAR is good at what they do, continually offers offering unique options and performance capabilities where it counts, which makes them one of the premier system integrators in the country,†said Ujesh Desai, vice president of GPU business at NVIDIA. “With NVIDIA three ® 3-way SLI NVIDIA® GeForceâ„¢ GTX 480s under the hood running in a 3-way SLI configuration, MAINGEAR customers , 4.5GB GDDR5 is designed to offer gamers can be assured of incredible scalability in their graphics performance and an awesome overall PC gaming experience, no matter their game of choice.â€
“The MAINGEAR SHIFT with Super Stock options and Microsoft Windows 7 are representing a whole new generation of performance and personalized user experiences for hardcore gamers and PC enthusiasts alike.†said Eddie O’Brien, VP of Microsoft US OEM.
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GoPro HERO 960: An Entry-Level Helmet Cam
If you've ever wanted to be on the X-Games, or at least record yourself as you went for your latest trick, this is probably worth paying attention to. GoPro, which is known for making helmet cams, has just introduced their latest version: the Wearable HD Hero 960. It's a head-worn camera that captures the action ahead of you in high definition, with this one being marked as an entry-level unit. 
The company claims that it can handle just about anything. Skiing, motorsports, jumping from airplanes, etc. You can attach it to your helmet, body, head or coat; pretty much anywhere, really. The HD HERO 960 is an entry level version of the original 1080p HD HERO, sharing the same cutting edge video and audio capture technology but with resolutions on the HD HERO 960 limited to 960p (1280 x 960) and 720p (1280 x 720) at 30 frames per second, and WVGA (848 x 480) at 60 frames per second. Also removed from the HD HERO 960 is the HERO BUSâ„¢ expansion port that is present on the full featured 1080p HD HERO. The HERO BUS allows for LCD, secondary battery and additional expansion BacPacs to be attached to the original 1080p HD HERO camera, but not the HD HERO 960. Aside from theses changes, the HD HERO 960 is a full blooded GoPro camera.
The HD HERO 960 is compatible with GoPro’s full line of mounting accessories, and it's available today for $179.99. If you aren't convinced, there's a video just below to help out.
GoPro® - World’s Best Selling Wearable HD Camera Company - Launches HD HERO® 960
New $179 Addition to Award Winning Wearable HD Sports Camera Line
September 29, 2010 — Half Moon Bay, Calif. /PRNewswire/ — GoPro, the world’s best selling wearable HD camera company, is proud to announce the release of the HD HERO 960, an entry level $179 version of the award winning HD HERO camera. The HD HERO 960 incorporates the same professional image and sound quality that has made the original HD HERO the camera of choice for more athletes and filmmakers than any other sports camera in the world. The HD HERO 960 is available today at GoPro.com and worldwide at authorized GoPro retailers for $179.99 (USA MSRP).
Whether you’re passionate about outdoor sports or motorsports, jumping out of gondolas or out of airplanes, chances are you’ve heard about GoPro’s now world famous HD HERO line of wearable and gear mountable cameras. Designed for attaching to your body, head, helmet, and favorite gear, the HD HERO line of sports cameras makes it easy to capture professional quality HD video of you and your friends in action. A wide array of mounting accessories ranging from chest harnesses to head straps, pole mounts to surfboard mounts make it easy to capture incredible footage normally only seen in professional productions. As a result, GoPro’s HD HERO line of cameras is not only the top selling sports camera in consumer markets but is also the top selling camera to Hollywood for film and TV productions where an “easy to mount anywhere†professional HD camera is needed. GoPro’s success is best illustrated by the number of TV shows airing on Discovery Channel, National Geographic, CNN, CBS, BBC, Versus, FuelTV, SPEED TV, and more that feature footage from HD HERO cameras.
"When I saw the footage from the GoPro on our big screens at Skywalker Ranch, I was amazed,†said producer Rick McCallum of Lucasfilm Ltd.
The HD HERO 960 is an entry level version of the original 1080p HD HERO, sharing the same cutting edge video and audio capture technology but with resolutions on the HD HERO 960 limited to 960p (1280 x 960) and 720p (1280 x 720) at 30 frames per second, and WVGA (848 x 480) at 60 frames per second. Also removed from the HD HERO 960 is the HERO BUSâ„¢ expansion port that is present on the full featured 1080p HD HERO. The HERO BUS allows for LCD, secondary battery and additional expansion BacPacsâ„¢ to be attached to the original 1080p HD HERO camera, but not the HD HERO 960.
Aside from theses changes, the HD HERO 960 is a full blooded GoPro camera. Retained are the award winning image and audio quality, ease of use, and durability. A sample of video shot in 960 on the HERO can be seen here. The HD HERO 960 is compatible with GoPro’s full line of mounting accessories and comes standard with GoPro’s first class customer service and one year warranty.
Also featured in the HD HERO 960 is GoPro’s hands-free 5 megapixel timelapse photo mode. This automatic photo taking feature landed ASP World Longboard Champion, Harley Ingleby, on the cover Australian Longboarding Magazine this past July. The above photo is the original shot that landed the on the cover of the magazine. “I just paddled out and the wave that got the cover shot was actually the very first wave I ever set it up to shoot still photos,†said Ingleby.
A new feature on the HD HERO 960 is “One Button Mode†which locks the camera into video or photo mode and automatically starts recording once the camera is turned on. Since the camera is locked into recording once turned on, this new “One Button Mode†makes it easier than ever to capture the footage of your most exciting moments with the single press of a button. Perfect for new users, loaning the camera to friends, or when rented out to rental customers, One Button Mode makes the HD HERO 960 as easy to use as pressing a button. One Button Mode can be turned on and off, depending on the user’s preference.
The HD HERO 960 shares the same bomb-proof housing construction that has taken the original 1080p HD HERO to both the North and South poles, to the edge of Space and down to the great depths of the ocean. Rated to 180’/60m, the HD HERO 960’s housing protects the camera during any activity so that you can focus on having fun without worrying about the camera. In the event that you do damage the housing, replacement lenses, housings, and other parts are available so that you can replace only those parts you need, not the entire camera.
Included mounts that come with the HD HERO 960:
   * Head Strap – Allows you to wear the camera like a headlamp. You can also pull this strap over helmets for easy camera sharing between friends.
   * Flat and Curved Surface Adhesive Baseplates - Baseplate easily adheres onto a flat or curved surface allowing the HD HERO 960 with simple click on and quick release mounting.
A new mount featured in the HD HERO 960 is GoPro’s Helmet Front Mount, a curved extension arm that makes it easy to mount the HD HERO 960 on the front of a helmet like a miner's light or headlamp. The most low profile and convenient way to mount a camera on a helmet, the Helmet Front Mount also allows for the camera to be extended out in front of the helmet and pointed back at the wearer, allowing for incredible self portrait videos and photos of the action.
GoPro’s HD HERO Cameras Capture Video You and Others Actually Want to Watch
“We’ve been amazed at not only the quality of video that our customers have produced with the HD HERO since it’s launch, but also the variety of activities our customers are engaged in. People use the HD HERO camera for every type of activity imaginable,†said Nicholas Woodman, founder and CEO of GoPro, “Everyone has their passion and we’re so stoked that the HD HERO seems to be people’s solution for capturing incredibly high quality HD footage of that passion. The reason behind the HD HERO 960 is to make it easy for even more people to GoPro. We can’t wait to see the amazing footage all of our new customers are going capture and share.â€
A simple search for “GoPro†on video sharing sites brings back thousands of videos consumers have created and proactively tagged as ‘GoPro.’
“We don’t automatically mark videos that were uploaded from a GoPro, so the fact that people are tagging their videos ‘GoPro’ is a great sign that our customers are really fired up on GoPro’s brand,†exclaimed Woodman. “Equally exciting is the average number of views these videos are getting. It’s telling that so many people love watching content captured with a GoPro camera. Your average GoPro customer is creating content that is often on par as with network television programming. That’s our most satisfying accomplishment...that we’re putting the power of professional HD capture into the hands of everyday enthusiasts. GoPro, indeed,†Woodman exclaims.
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Left 4 Dead "The Sacrifice" DLC Trailer and Screenshots
"The Sacrifice" downloadable content is due for release on October 5, 2010. It is the prequel to "The Passing," and takes place from the L4D Survivors' perspective as they make their way South, before meeting up with the quartet from L4D2.
 
 
In addition to advancing the story, "The Sacrifice" introduces a new style finale featuring "Sacrificial Gameplay" where players get to decide who will give their life so the others may live.
The Sacrifice DLC for L4D1 and L4D2 are separate downloads for each version of the game. In The Sacrifice for Left 4 Dead 1 gamers receive the complete Sacrifice campaign with maps playable in Campaign, Versus, and Survival modes. In The Sacrifice for Left 4 Dead 2, owners receive "The Sacrifice" campaign playable with the original Left 4 Dead Survivors. In addition, those with Left 4 Dead 2 receive L4D's "No Mercy" campaign. Both campaigns are playable in Campaign, Versus, Survival, and Scavenge modes and both will feature the Left 4 Dead 2 Special Infected, items, and weapons.
The Sacrifice DLC for L4D1 and L4D2 are separate downloads for each version of the game. In The Sacrifice for Left 4 Dead 1 gamers receive the complete Sacrifice campaign with maps playable in Campaign, Versus, and Survival modes. In The Sacrifice for Left 4 Dead 2, owners receive "The Sacrifice" campaign playable with the original Left 4 Dead Survivors. In addition, those with Left 4 Dead 2 receive L4D's "No Mercy" campaign. Both campaigns are playable in Campaign, Versus, Survival, and Scavenge modes and both will feature the Left 4 Dead 2 Special Infected, items, and weapons.
"The Sacrifice" will be available for download on Xbox Live for 560 Microsoft Points and free to all PC gamers.
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Google's Phone Gallery Keeps You Posted on the Latest Android Phones
There are so many different Android phones, and that's been one of the reasons for Android's success. Different form factors, different carriers, even in the U.S. So how do you find out about all them? Google has an app, er, sorry, a web site for that.In fact, the Google Phone Gallery also shows what you do with a web page that's no longer being used. It used to be the site you would go to if you wanted to by an HTC Nexus One, the late, lamented Google Phone (http://www.google.com/phone).
It's an interesting way to keep up with the latest and greatest Android phones, as it can be sorted either alphabetically or by date. You can also select and compare up to three phones, and filter by manufacturer. It's a little embarrassing for the Motorola Charm to be the phone at the top of the list when sorted in default mode (date of release), but hey, soon, that will be replaced by the G2, right?
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MSI Launches GT663 Laptop with Nvidia Graphics
MSI has gone and expanded its gaming notebook line with the launch of the GT663, a 15.6-inch model with Nvidia's high-end GeForce GTX 460M graphics inside. The graphics part comes with 1.5GB of GDDR5 memory and supports all those DirectX 11 visuals, as well as Nvidia's PhysX technology, if you're keeping count of marketing bullets.Various configurations are available, all of which come built around Intel's Core i7 platform. Other specs include up to 12GB of DDR3-1066/1333 memory, 500GB SATA hard drive, DVD burner (optional Blu-ray), 2.1 speakers, HD webcam, memory card reader, GbE, Wireless-N, Bluetooth (optional), HDMI, two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, eSATA, Windows 7 Home Premium, and a 9-cell battery.
You'll also find the usual assortment of MSI technologies bundled in, including Turbo Drive Engine+ (TDE+) technology and the company's ECO Engine Power Management System.
No word yet on price or availability.
MSI GT663 Laptop with nVidiaThe GT663, MSI's latest and greatest new generation G series laptop, packs the GeForce GTX 460M (1.5GB GDDR5 of display memory), nVidia’s high-end discrete graphics card to support DirectX 11. The ultra high resolution display offers a crisp, clear view, giving you a battlefield edge.Â
Top-of-the-line GeForce GTX 460M discrete graphics card
Taipei—You’re a sniper in the middle of a fierce firefight. You’re trying to get an enemy soldier in your sites, but because he’s far away, poor resolution makes it hard to lock it on him. MSI Marketing Director Sam Chern explains that the GT663, MSI's new generation gaming series laptop, comes equipped with GeForce GTX 460M (1.5GB GDDR5), nVidia’s most advanced discrete graphics card to support DirectX 11. The high resolution it provides faithfully displays scenes from the battle, giving you clear shots of opponents. You can't blame your equipment anymore. Sam Chern points out that MSI already uses this series of discrete graphics cards in its powerful and stylish F series laptops which have won praise from media organizations the world over.
New nVidia graphics card provides new levels of clarity
Enhanced image resolution with DirectX 11:Â The GT663 comes with nVidia's new generation GeForce GTX 460M high-end discrete graphics card (w/ 1.5GB of GDDR5 display memory) which supports DirectX 11 to enhance game resolution. Now-visible lines in far-off buildings make games more realistic. Now, you can see individuals off in the distance or hidden in dark corners in great detail. You can see their eyes, facial features, and clothing, making it easier to distinguish friend from foe and target in on bad guys off in the distance, greatly enhancing game realism.
PhysXâ„¢ technology:Â MSI GT663 comes with the GeForce GTX 460M discrete graphics card which supports PhysXâ„¢ to fully utilize each processing core in the GeForce GPU to greatly enhance physics processing capabilities, allowing the nVidia PhysXâ„¢ software to more faithfully reproduce the universe of your choice with collapsing walls, shattered glass all over the floor, and even water that changes shape with the influence of external forces.
Powerful hardware
MSI Marketing Director Sam Chern explains that MSI's new generation G series GT663 gaming laptop comes with the latest Intel Core i7 quad core CPU under the hood as well as three DDR3 memory slots for a maximum of 12GB of expandable memory. In addition, MSI worked in cooperation with internationally renowned sound system designer Dynaudio to give the GT663 the ultimate in audio. It also has DTS Surround Sensation UltraPCâ„¢ technology to give you cinema-class sound at no extra cost through dual-channel speakers or headsets.
High-end CPU: The MSI GT663 boasts the most powerful hard/software available, including Intel’s most advanced Core i7 quad core processor with Intel Turbo Boost—dynamic performance adjustment technology that distributes notebook performance in accordance with application workload.
Three DDR3 memory slots:Â To give gamers maximum power, MSI gave the GT663 three DDR3 memory slots to expand memory up to 12GB, giving it computing power on par with that of servers.
Dual hard disk architecture:Â The GT663 comes with two hard drives, endowing this mean machine with up to 1TB of memory.
USB3.0 ports: The MSI GT663 comes with new USB3.0 ports which boast transfer speeds of 5Gbps—10 times faster than the USB2.0, and 80% higher power transmission, providing vastly higher data transfer and charging speeds for external hard drives, and other handheld electronic devices.
TDE+ technology throttles up performance
TDE+ double Turbo Drive technology: The GT663 has double Turbo Drive technology to rev up both processor and display performance. Just one touch of the luminescent Turbo hotkey above the keyboard engages the TDE+ (Turbo Drive Engine+ technology), instantly boosting system speed for enhanced processor and display performance. Not only does it keep your system from bogging down when executing load-intensive applications, this highly responsive computer has got your back when you’re surrounded by hordes of angry goblins or careening through the universe at the speed of light.
Cooler Boost technology: In addition to instant Turbo Drive courtesy of TDE technology, the GT663 has another awesome feature—MSI’s own Cooler Boost technology. Again, just a touch of a luminescent hotkey located above the keyboard kicks in the powerful cooling action. The GT663 also offers players core temperature change and variable fan speed, allowing it to stay cool as a cucumber even when working for extended periods in high temperatures.
Awesome audio
Perfect speaker position:Â To build a laptop with superb sound, you need to be meticulous about every detail. Even speaker locations and sound field design have to be calculated with precision. MSI worked side by side with Dynaudio to carry out vast amounts of study and countless calculations on the GT663 to determine ideal locations to install speakers to obtain obstruction-free sound transmission.
Superior sound performance:Â With DTS Surround Sensation UltraPCâ„¢ technology, your dual channel laptop provides 5.1 channel theater-class wrap-around sound without the need to calculate optimal positions for the six speakers.
GT663 Spec
Processor Intel Core i7 Processor Operating System Windows 7 Memory DDR3-1333MHz up to 12GB Display 15.6" Full HD or HD LED backlight (16:9) Graphics Nvidia GeForce GTX 460M -1.5GB Video Output 1x HDMI, 1x VGA Hard Disk Drive 500GB/640GB RAID 0/1TB RAID 0 Optical Disk Drive DVD Super Multi/ Blu-ray Interfaces 2x USB 3.0,2x USB 2.0,1x eSATA,1x Express Card,5-in-1 card reader Sound 2.1ch speakers sound by Dynaudio, DTS surround sensation UltraPC Communication 802.11 b/g/n WLAN,Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR,1x Gigabit LAN Webcam HD (30fps@720p) Battery 9-Cell Li-Ion Dimension 395 x 267 x 55mm Weight 3.5Kg(w/Battery)
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Screen refresh
I'd like to have a button to turn off the page refresh.
Very often while I'm composing a post I get called away from my desk only to return and find my uncompleted work gone.
If there is a way to turn it off I haven't found it.
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Brite-View Streams 1080p Content From PC to TV With HDelight
Wireless streaming, aside from tablet PCs, seems to be all the rage these days. It was once reserved for those in the high-end market, but now the technology has hit a price point that's ready for mass market. Brite-View has been in the game for some time now, primarily in the business of creating media streamers. But the new HDelight is a wireless 1080p PC-to-TV transmission kit, and it marks the company's third WHDI solution for the home theater.This one is definitely the smallest of the three, with the ability to turn any HDMI-ready computer into a wireless home theater PC. Brite-View has made this one remarkably easy to use; just plug the USB-powered transmitter into the computer's HDMI port, and the receiver into the TV's HDMI port. There's no extra software to install or anything. The HDelight can transmit 1080p content up to 30 feet without latency, and even Blu-ray Players are supported.
The unit is up for pre-sale now at $179.99, which is far cheaper than the $1k+ units that did the same thing just a couple of years ago.
brite-View HDelight Turns HDMI-Ready PCs Into Wireless HTPCs
Â
Web and PC Content Such as Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and 1080p Blu-ray Movies Transfer from PC to TV Wirelessly
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- brite-View by Xpike Innovation today launched the HDelight (BV-1222), the company's third WHDI solution for the home theater. The HDelight is the most compact of the three, and further differentiates itself with the ability to turn any HDMI-ready computer into a wireless home theater PC.
Using the HDelight is easy. Just plug the USB-powered transmitter into the computer's HDMI port, and the receiver into the TV's HDMI port. The user can then immediately start enjoying any content available on the computer on the flat-screen HDTV, including Blu-ray movies, Netflix, Hulu and YouTube. This plug-and-play solution requires no software installation. The HDelight can transmit 1080p content up to 30 feet without latency, so PC gamers can enjoy the full rush on a large-screen TV.
One of the YouTube videos brite-View pre-released for the HDelight addressed a common "multi-tasking" scenario. Using the dual monitor display on your PC, the HDelight lets you watch a Netflix movie on TV while simultaneously checking your Facebook status.
"brite-View is the market leader for WHDI solutions that enrich HD entertainment experiences," says Robert Lo, CEO of Xpike Innovation. "With the HDelight, you can enjoy web or PC content on TV without having to spend $2,000 for the new connected TV. Because Boxee software is installed on the PC and smart phones work as remote controls, you don't need other boxes around the TV."
The HDelight MSRP is $179.99, but on www.brite-view.com, it is available for pre-order for $159.99. brite-View is also holding a sweepstakes, and on October 28, 2010 one lucky person will win the HDelight and Logitech diNovo Mini bundle.Â
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MSI Introduces N480GTX Twin Frozr II Graphics Card
Looking for a new GPU, and don't much mind how much noise it makes? Look no further than MSI's newest card, the N480GTX Twin Frozr II graphics card. Despite having two huge fans onboard, MSI claims that their specialized cooling system effectively reduces temperature by 14 degrees C and noise by 4dB. Impressive claims for sure.The card is built on the 40nm manufacturing process, and it's equipped with 1.5GB of GDDR5 memory. Furthermore, there are two 8cm PWM fans and five heat-pipes, and the integrated afterburner overclocking software allows users to really push things. MSI hasn't given a price or release date, but given that it's based on NVIDIA's GeForce 480 GTX, we'd say it'll be pretty expensive and on shelves soon.
MSI launches the N480GTX Twin Frozr II graphics card to effectively reduce temperature by 14 and noise by 4dB
[Taipei-Taiwan] Internationally renowned graphics card and mainboard manufacturer MSI officially launches the N480GTX Twin Frozr II graphics card. Built on the latest 40nm manufacturing process, the N480GTX Twin Frozr II is equipped with 1536MB of high-speed GDDR5 memory. The exclusive, award-winning Twin Frozr II thermal design meets the performance and thermal demands of graphics enthusiasts.
Along with various exclusive technologies from NVIDIA such as 3D Vision Surround, PhysX, and CUDA, the N480GTX Twin Frozr II allows games to be played at the highest resolutions. The Twin Frozr II dual-fan thermal design from MSI reduces temperature by 14?C and noise by 4dB when compared to the the reference design. Without a doubt, the N480GTX Twin Frozr II is the only and best solution for superb performance, low operating temperature, and quiet performance.
MSI-exclusive Twin Frozr II thermal design: Perfect balance between cooling and noise
The N480GTX Twin Frozr II is equipped with the latest Twin Frozr II thermal design exclusive from MSI. In addition to the large-area copper-base heat-sink and super high-density fins, there are two 8cm PWM fans and 5 heat-pipes integrated by the SuperPipe technology to ensure outstanding cooling performance. When compared with the reference design, the Twin Frozr II can successfully reduce temperature by 14?C and noise by 4dB, thus making it an excellent design to provide the coolest and quietest performance.
MSI Afterburner overclocking software: Unleashing GPU potential with overvoltage
The N480GTX Twin Frozr II also supports the MSI-exclusive award-winning Afterburner overclocking software. Allowing GPU and memory clock adjustment, as well as GPU overvoltage for overclocking enthusiasts, the Afterburner software allows power users to easily unleash and further enhance the overclocking potential of the N480GTX Twin Frozr II. The Kombustor burn-in testing tool co-developed by MSI and FurMark even allows users to test system stability while pushing the performance of the N480GTX Twin Frozr II to the extreme.
Full military class components: Building the product with the best quality
Apart from the outstanding thermal design, the N480GTX Twin Frozr II is built with exclusive Military-Class Components, including the Hi-c CAP (8 times longer life time than general solid capacitors), the Solid State Choke (no buzz noise), and the All-Solid caps (over 10 years expected lifespan). All these components ensure extended lifespan and stability and assure the unbeatable quality of the N480GTX Twin Frozr II.
NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround, PhysX and CUDA technologies: Guarantee for optimal entertainment
In addition to the powerful hardware design, the N480GTX Twin Frozr II supports NVIDIA technologies such as 3D Vision Surround, PhyX, and CUDA computing technologies, pushing the visual experience to its limits.
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Asus Matrix 5870 2GB Video Card Review
Today on HotHardware we look at one of the most highly customized Radeon HD 5870 cards on the market, the Asus Matrix 5870. This card offers identical clock speeds to AMD's reference design, with an 850 MHz core clock and 1200 MHz memory speed, but that's where the similarities end. This particular graphics card features 2GB of GDDR5 memory, a custom ROG shroud, an LED load indicator, voltage read points, a video BIOS recovery button, dual 8-pin PCI-E power connectors, and a Super Hybrid Engine chip which provides real time hardware monitoring and adjustments. Without a doubt, it's loaded with options and unlike any other 5870 currently available. Interested? Read on to find out if the Matrix 5870 has what it takes to be your next upgrade...Asus Matrix 5870 2GB Video Card Review
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You Will Soon Own a Home Robot, Researchers Say
The "personal robots" market will explode in the next few years, and we don't mean all over your kitchen. ABI Research expects robots aimed at consumers to create a $19 billion market by 2017. Who wouldn't want one of the two new "personal presence" bots introduced this month by start-ups? Or Panasonic's new hair-washing robot?Vacuum robots have had the most success with consumers so far, but its these types of personal presence robots that ABI thinks will soon take off. "While a truly 'killer app' has yet to emerge in personal robots, security/telepresence and health care-related applications are likely to gain significant traction by the end of the forecast period," says Larry Fisher emerging technologies research director for ABI Research.
For instance, earlier this month Willow Garage introduced the PR2 remote presence robot. It allows workers to attend meetings or trade shows via an Internet video connection. It has robotic arms and hands that mimic human dexterity. These can do important tasks such as fetch a beer or play a game of pool. It can also be programmed to wash the dishes or do the laundry while you drink the beer, and it won't complain or throw snide looks at you.
Downside: it costs $400,000 -- which doesn't exactly fit the budget of the average consumer. Seriously, that's about double the median cost of houses in the U.S. The PR2 runs on open source software and Willow is offering a $120,000 discount toward purchase for open source programmers that write apps for it.
In comparison, the Anybots' QB Personal Avatar robot is a relative bargain. QBs will start shipping in late 2010 at a price tag of $15,000. The QB doesn't have arms, so it won't function as your maid or beer waiter. It will be your remote eyes and ears with its 5 megapixels camera and three microphones. (It focuses on the loudest voice, its makers say). It weighs 35 pounds and moves at the pace a person would use to politely flee down the hall away from it (3.5 mph). It will last two hours on a battery charge.
For creep effect, it's eyes go dark to indicate when you've logged out.
Then again, maybe you just want to be pampered. Or better still, you want your bedridden grandma to be pampered. In that case, personal care robots might be for you. Panasonic will be demonstrating a hair washing robot at the International Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition in Tokyo next month. It's geared for the elderly in assisted living facilities and so works with a mechanical bed that transforms into a wheelchair, says Endgadget.
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Nokia Starts Shipping N8 Smartphone in Europe
Nokia can go ahead and check off "Phase One" on its grand plan of storming the smartphone market and propelling itself into relevance. The company's highly anticipated N8 -- the smartphone that could make or break Nokia's chances of being taken seriously in the high-end phone segment -- has starting shipping."With the N8, and the new Symbian software, we are bringing a familiar, faster and more intuitive user experience to the world's most popular smartphone platform. The Nokia N8 has received the highest amount of consumer pre-orders in Nokia history and we are thrilled to start shipments of the N8, the first of Nokia's new Symbian smartphone range," says Jo Harlow, Senior Vice President, Smartphones, Nokia.
Nokia, still the world's largest mobile phone maker, has seen its market share fall from 50 percent to 32 percent the last few years as high-end smartphones become all the rage. The N8 is supposed to be Nokia's long overdue answer to Apple's iPhone, as well as the spate of other popular devices that have shipped since then, like the Motorola Droid, Samsung Galaxy, and HTC's growing stable of smartphones.
The N8 is the first of a series of smartphones built around the new Symbian platform with support for true multitasking. Features of the N8 include:
- 3.5-inch touchscreen (AMOLED)
- Ambient light sensor
- Virtual keyboard
- 256MB SDRAM
- 16GB internal memory
- microSD card slot (up to 32GB)
- HDMI
- Bluetooth 3.0
- Wireless-N
- ARM processor clocked at 680MHz
- 12MP camera
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Study: Texting While Driving Bans are Ineffective
So you're driving along minding the rules of the road when all of a sudden some moron in the other lane weaves in front of you. Is he drunk? Did he suffer a stroke? Nope, he's just firing off a text message. You could flip him off, but unless you have an appropriate emoticon for that, and his cell phone number, he'll never see it.Because of situations like this -- and worse -- most states have had the good sense to ban texting while driving. It'd be naive to think a law prohibiting an activity would stop it altogether, but surely it's helping, right? Maybe not. According to a new study by researchers at the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), laws against texting while driving have done nothing to reduce the number of text-related crashes. Surprising? Chew on this -- since these laws went into effect, the number of insurance claims filed under collision coverage have actually went up!
In Minnesota, the collision rate went up 9 percent after the texting while driving ban went into effect.
"Texting bans haven't reduced crashes at all. In a perverse twist, crashes increased in 3 of the 4 states we studied after bans were enacted. It's an indication that texting bans might even increase the risk of texting for drivers who continue to do so despite the laws," says Adrian Lund, president of both HLDI and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
You could chalk it up to coincidence or just disregard the study altogether, but there's actually a plausible reason why bans on texting while driving might actually be causing the crash rate to go up.
"If drivers were disregarding the bans, then the crash patterns should have remained steady," Lund explains. "So clearly drivers did respond to the bans somehow, and what they might have been doing was moving their phones down and out of sight when they texted, in recognition that what they were doing was illegal. This could exacerbate the risk of texting by taking drivers' eyes further from the road and for a longer time."
Lund's assessment jives with recent survey results, which show that many drivers, and in particularly young and inexperienced ones, admit to disregarding these bans. Almost half of all drivers ages 18-24 years old said they still text while driving, partly because they didn't feel like there was a high risk of getting caught.
Do the results surprise you?
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HP Names A New CEO: Léo Apotheker
And just like that, another CEO rolls into an HP corner office. Not even two months after HP's Mark Hurd resigned as the CEO of Hewlett-Packard, a replacement has been found. It's not immediately clear why the temporary CEO wasn't positioned as full-time, nor is perfectly clear why HP went outside of the company. We always have to wonder what kind of impact is has on employee morale when a company seeks a CEO from outside of the company (was no one in the company good enough? was the company in need of a culture shift?), but nevertheless, Léo Apotheker is taking over.The HP Board of Directors announced today that Léo Apotheker will be taking over at Chief Executive Officer and President. Previously, Apotheker served as CEO of SAP, and he will also join HP’s Board of Directors in addition to his other duties. The Board also elected Ray Lane, Managing Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, as a new member of the Board and designated him as non-executive Chairman. Both elections are effective November 1.
Apotheker spent over 20 years at SAP, and he is credited with expanding the company's R&D platforms and leading SAP to 18 consecutive quarters of double-digit software revenue growth between 2004 and 2009. Â
The press release, which is below, is full of back-slapping and smiles, but only time (and quarterly results) will tell if this was a good move. Will he change anything major at HP? Refocus divisions? Either way, it should be interesting to watch someone from the outside come in and start moving things around.
 Léo Apotheker Named CEO and President of HP
Ray Lane Joins HP as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Board of Directors of HP (NYSE: HPQ) today announced the election of Léo Apotheker as Chief Executive Officer and President. Apotheker, who previously served as CEO of SAP, will also join HP’s Board of Directors. The Board also elected Ray Lane, Managing Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, as a new member of the Board and designated him as non-executive Chairman. Both elections are effective November 1.
   “After more than two decades in the industry, he has a strong track record of driving technological innovation, building customer relationships and developing world-class teams.â€
During Apotheker’s more than 20 years at SAP, he was a driving force in making it the largest business software applications company in the world. Apotheker helped develop and implement the most significant changes in SAP history. During his tenure, he transformed R&D and technology platforms and expanded business models and customer segments. Apotheker also helped lead SAP to 18 consecutive quarters of double-digit software revenue growth between 2004 and 2009.
Lane has served on the Board of Directors of more than 20 public and private companies and joined Kleiner Perkins in 2000. Previously, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer at Oracle Corporation. Earlier in his career, Lane also worked at Booz Allen Hamilton, EDS and IBM.
“Léo is a strategic thinker with a passion for technology, wide-reaching global experience and proven operational discipline – exactly what we were looking for in a CEO,†said Robert Ryan, lead independent director of the Board. “After more than two decades in the industry, he has a strong track record of driving technological innovation, building customer relationships and developing world-class teams.â€
Ryan continued, “Léo has been a leader in anticipating the transformation taking place in our industry, and we believe he is uniquely positioned to help accelerate HP’s strategy. He has demonstrated success in the U.S. market and also has vast international experience – which will be a major asset as HP continues to expand globally, particularly in high-growth emerging markets. HP has the right assets and market positions, and now we have the best team to realize the company’s enormous potential.â€
“HP has a powerful mix of businesses, products and services, one of the most innovative cultures in the industry, and an accomplished management team who have played a critical role in its success,†said Apotheker. “I am deeply honored to be joining the more than 300,000 dedicated HP employees.â€
Apotheker continued, “Given HP’s diversified products and services, its financial strength, and its leadership position across markets, no other company is as well positioned to drive – and profit from – the revolutionary changes under way in the marketplace. As we move forward, HP will continue to be a valued partner with our customers as well as a fierce competitor. I look forward to working with the outstanding people at HP to write the next chapter in the company’s long and proud history.â€
“I am excited to join the Board of this pioneering company, and look forward to working closely with Léo – and the rest of the Board and senior management team – as they capitalize on the changes taking place across the industry,†Lane said. “I have known and admired Léo for almost 20 years. He is ideally suited to build on HP’s strong foundation, leverage its many assets and keep the company at the forefront of innovation.â€
Apotheker will succeed Cathie Lesjak, who was named interim CEO in August 2010. Lesjak, who has served as HP’s Chief Financial Officer since January 2007, remains CFO and continues to serve as a member of the Executive Council. Ryan said, “Cathie is and will continue to be an important part of HP. We are extremely fortunate to have one of the deepest, most talented senior management teams in the industry and to have someone of Cathie’s caliber lead HP during this interim period. On behalf of the entire Board, I would like to thank Cathie and our senior management team for maintaining HP’s focus on serving customers and continuing to execute our strategy.â€
Financial analyst conference call details
On Friday, HP will host an audio webcast for financial analysts and stockholders to discuss the elections. Details are below:
When: Friday, October 1, 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT
URL: www.hp.com/investor/home
It is recommended that attendees dial in 15 minutes early to avoid registration delays.
About Léo Apotheker
Apotheker worked at SAP for more than 20 years in a variety of positions, most recently as Chief Executive Officer. As a member of SAP’s Executive Board from 2002 until 2010, Apotheker oversaw the full sweep of the company’s operations. He led worldwide sales, service, and field operations for five years and more than doubled the number of customers; successfully turned around SAP’s North American operations; and led more than a dozen acquisitions, including the approximately $7 billion takeover of Business Objects, the first major acquisition in SAP’s history.
In addition to serving as co-CEO and CEO, Apotheker also previously served as deputy CEO, and, for five years, as President of Global Customer Solutions and Operations. For a period, he also had responsibility for SAP’s North American operations. From 1999 to 2002, he was President of SAP EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa); before that, served as CEO of South-West Europe Region; and was CEO and founder of SAP France and SAP Belgium. He started his career at SAP in 1988.
Apotheker was the founding president and chief operating officer of ECsoft BV, one of the largest European venture capital start-ups, from 1992 to 1994. He also has held leadership and management positions at ABP Partners, McCormack & Dodge Europe, S.W.I.F.T. and Altex GmbH.
Apotheker was born in Aachen, Germany on September 18, 1953, and graduated with a BA in Economics and International Relations from Hebrew University, Jerusalem. He is fluent in five languages (English, Dutch, French, German and Hebrew) and was awarded the French Légion d’honneur in 2007 in recognition of his business leadership and contribution to the French economy.
Apotheker currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Schneider Electric SA, and is a member of the Board of Directors of GT Nexus and the Board of PlaNet Finance, a not-for-profit organization.
About Ray Lane
Lane is a Managing Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. He sits on the boards of Fisker Automotive, GreatPoint Energy, Luca Technologies, Xsigo, Elance and Quest Software. Prior to KPCB, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Oracle. Before joining Oracle, Lane was a Senior Partner with Booz Allen Hamilton and led that firm’s Information Technology practice worldwide. Prior to Booz Allen Hamilton, he served as Division Vice President with EDS. In addition, he spent ten years with IBM in various product management, sales, and marketing positions. Lane received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and an honorary PhD in science from West Virginia University. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Carnegie Mellon University, is on the Board of Governors of WVU, and serves as Vice Chairman of Special Olympics International.Â
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New Whitepaper Claims GPUs Threaten Malware Security
For the past 3.5 years or so, NVIDIA has ardently advocated the GPU as a computational platform capable of solving almost any problem. One topic the company hasn't targeted, however, is the tremendous performance advantage the GPU could offer malware authors. The idea that a graphics card could double as a security hole isn't something we've heard before, but according to a paper by Giorgos Vasiliadis, Michalis Polychronakis and Sotiris Ionnidis, it's an attack vector whose popularity could boom in coming years. The trio argues that all the computational hardware that makes the GPU such an ideal fit for certain types of scientific or graphical workloads could (and will) deliver equal benefits to workloads with considerably darker aspirations. The group wrote two CUDA applications demonstrating the proficiency of GPU-based runtime polymorphism or code unpacking. These two techniques are designed to prevent security white hats from detecting or analyzing maleficent code. As you might imagine, the GPU performed both tasks with considerable aplomb. Although the researchers chose to write their proof-of-concept applications using CUDA, it's not because of any security risk particular to that language (or NVIDIA). At the moment, CUDA is the most widely used language for GPGPU applications; the team notes that including an OpenCL version of the malware package would be trivial.
GPUs, the paper argues, threaten on two fronts. First, there's simple performance—GPU malware could perform far more work than traditional CPU-based schemes. Second is the issue of detection. The traditional means by which malware is typically detected are largely inapplicable when it comes to the GPU. Once code is transferred to the GPU, it's essentially cloaked—there's no mechanism by which a CPU-based program can monitor a GPU program to the degree that's theoretically required. With its plentiful supply of local RAM, malicious code can hide in the shadows, conversing with the CPU only on occasion, and only to transfer apparently innocuous bits of data.
More Watch Than Warning
The paper highlights an interesting and new attack vector but we wouldn't raise a full alarm just yet. Before threats leveraging GPU assets can become widespread programmable GPUs must achieve near-total market penetration. Malware, by its very nature, is built to run on as many systems as is (cheaply) possible. Esoteric or high-profile exploits tend to get the most press, but badware creators don't generally try to create highly-targeted software packages aimed at stealing Cyberdyne's plans for a liquid-metal terminator. It's much simpler to
exploit human stupidity, trick people into installing/downloading software that'll run on any system back to the introduction of IA-32, and then commence hijinks.
Yummy Facebook hijinks. Nomnomnom
You might think that every gamer would have upgraded to at least a DX10-capable video card by now (even if running XP)—but you'd be wrong. According to the latest batch of Steam survey results, 18 percent of its users game on GPUs that support DirectX9 with PS2.0b or PS3.0 shaders. That's enough to severely retard criminal interest right there; we'd presumably see an even higher number of older parts if we conducted the same survey across corporate America.
Even once every GPU supports CUDA (or OpenCL, DirectCompute, etc), there will always be a question as to whether or not the 'right' version is supported. A G80 can run CUDA programs—provided they're written to conform to CUDA 1.0 requirements. Again, there are issues of compatibility to consider, which potentially forces the black hats in question to write code that can run on any GPU and sacrifices performance in the process.
The threat is credible enough that we suspect to see additional safeguards and detection systems developed as time goes by. For now, GPU-assisted malware is a theoretical problem of potentially enormous proportions, but theory is all it is. That said, we can almost see the glee with which McAfee and Norton would view this new development—what better way to combat GPU malware than with GPU antiviral products?Â
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Gmail Becomes Less Conversational, If You Want
Some people love Gmail's conversation view, and some people hate it. Some just have gotten used to it. Now, however, if you don't like it, you can turn it off.In Gmail's conversation view, an email thread is linked together in one "cluster" in your inbox. It means, in effect, sorting by Subject to see a thread is no longer necessary. Still, not all like it.
Toggling of Conversation View has been a requested feature for some time, and although many (like us) feel conversation view simplifies things, it can be a pain if the email client you are using doesn't support it. Obviously, going to Gmail in the browser is no issue, but some stand-alone clients on the desktop and mobile don't work well with it.
Starting Wednesday, users can go into their Settings and turn off Conversation View. However, cloud-based as it is, as is typical of these feature changes, it will take time to reach all users.
In a blog post, Wiltse Carpenter, Technical Lead at Google, compares the dislike of Conversation View to the dislike of cilantro.
And just as an outspoken minority has banded together in unison to declare their distaste of one of nature’s most delicious herbs, some of you have been very vocal about your dislike of conversation threading. So just like you can order your baja fish tacos without cilantro, you can now get Gmail served up sans conversation view.Try it and tell us what you think. We'll stick with Conversation View, ourselves; we are among those who have "gotten used to it."
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